皇家华人

Biochemical engineers at 皇家华人 have joined forces with vaccinologists to provide a hub of skills and innovation to accelerate the development and manufacture of a low-cost supply of vaccines for all.

The UN estimates that globally听six听million children each year die before their听fifth听birthday听from diseases听that are preventable with vaccination.听听

The Future Vaccine Manufacturing Research Hub听(Vax-Hub)听capitalises听on new developments in genetics,听cell biology, engineering fundamentals听and manufacturing technologies to accelerate听the听development听of听affordable听vaccines for听large-scale manufacture,听and ensure the vaccines听quickly听reach听those who need them most.鈥�听

鈥淚n recent years we have seen remarkable advances in听synthetic biology and cell engineering. We听must continue听to innovate and听develop suitable manufacturing platforms听to exploit those advances and听ensure听everyone has access to effective vaccines,鈥澨齭ays听Professor Martina Micheletti听(UCL Biochemical Engineering).听

The听Vax-Hub听partnership听is听a听鈥榟ub and spokes鈥櫶齧odel,听with听two听鈥榟ubs鈥櫶�鈥撎齦ed by Professor Micheletti听(UCL Biochemical Engineering)听and听Professor听Sarah Gilbert听(Jenner Institute, University of Oxford) -supported听by 鈥榮poke鈥櫶齣nstitutions,听听small听and large听bioprocessing听companies听sector听and听international听organisations.听听

鈥�鈥淲e must continue to innovate and develop suitable manufacturing platforms听to exploit those advances and听ensure everyone has access to effective vaccines.鈥澨�

The听cross-disciplinary听team is devising tools and technologies to scale-up and provide听a听rapid,听low-cost supply听of vaccines. It听also supports听new听technology platforms听by providing听funding for听feasibility studies and knowledge transfer activities, both in the UK and internationally.听

For example,听Vax-Hub is working听with Professor Brendan Wren at the London School of Hygiene听&听Tropical Medicine who has听developed听a new vaccine听platform technology听to produce听a cheaper vaccine听against听bacterial meningitis and pneumonia.听The听Vax-Hub听is developing a scalable听manufacturing process听for听novel听vaccine candidates听that meet听international standards and听are听expected听to enter听clinical听trials听in the near future.听听听

鈥淭he听Hub brings together听academia, industry and policymakers to propose radical change in vaccine development and manufacturing technologies听and ensure vaccines听are suitable听for, and technologies translated to,听low-听and听middle-income听countries听and manufacturers,鈥澨齟xplains Professor Micheletti.听

鈥淲e want听to overcome the traditional inefficiencies that听occur听when vaccines are manufactured,听so that effective vaccines can be听manufactured quickly and reach those who need them most.鈥澨齭he听adds.听